Who is the Best Instructor to Improve Mental Game

K

Ky Boy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just wondering who really teaches the mental game. Reviews I read on here for instructors are generally full of information about fundamentals, aiming, position play, stroke, etc etc etc...

I have heard Jimmy Reid's No Time for Negative is a great read as well as the Inner Game of Tennis (I think that's what it's called). I plan on picking both of those up and giving them a good read but have been thinking lately of taking a lesson since I have never had one to see if I can take it to the next level.


Even Tin Cup had a mental game coach!:thumbup:


Gary
 
Besides those mentioned, I believe Max Eberle has some material out to. But, as justplay said, they can only give pointers. It's ultimately up to YOU. YOU have to be willing to change how you now look at things, and that can be an easy thing, or a very, very, hard thing to do. The hardest part is the "willing" to change part. You even asking goes a long ways towards that. Good luck with the changes.
 
I HAD to know the truth....I needed to know and my life would change at that moment

Ky Boy said:
Just wondering who really teaches the mental game. Reviews I read on here for instructors are generally full of information about fundamentals, aiming, position play, stroke, etc etc etc...

Gary
Click to expand...


We can relate, Gary, the mental game ultimately makes the biggest difference.

I remember when, at the age of 19, "Omaha John" and I were touring around on a road trip and ended up in a small bar in South Carolina. The owner of the bar was a BIG gambler and would take the 5 and the break from anyone playing on the bar table with the Big Cue Ball.

We had been going through a tough time and I was "breaking even" with everyone. Usually I would get ahead, then start "letting up," they would come back, "get even" and quit. This was getting annoying and I was beginning to question if I had enough "heart," to be a champion player.

This was a big thing in the gambling days, if you have the heart to close someone out. To put them away. And it was happening again, I had got up over 2k for $200 a game and now we raised it to $300. a game and the guy beat me 7 IN A ROW and we were just $100. winner.

Omaha John came up to me and said "if you're ever going to be a great road player you better do it now. I'm not out here "for my health," I have a wife and kid at home and I have to win, breaking even is for "suckers!"

He was serious, so, standing my cue against a near by stool, I stopped playing and went to the bathroom - it was "now or never," I thought, looking in the mirror, starring straight into my own eyes - "do you really want to be a pool player, do you really have what it takes?" I hesitated slightly, waiting for the answer to come from my "Inner Self"..... not the answer I wanted to hear, I HAD to know the truth....I needed to know and my life would change from that moment.

Finally the answer had come - I knew in my "heart of hearts" that the moment had arrived. "The Moment of Truth," I couldn't be a sucker, "stuck" at my current level, struggling to break even and making up excuses.

There was only one choice - to become a winner and break out of that "victim level" and do whatever it would take to learn the Truth about pool and what it takes to be the best.

I made that decision right then because I had to. And it's a decision that continues because life's much more about the "journey," than the "destination." Life is the best teacher, and at that moment my life was the game and for an instant they melded into One...The Game is the Teacher!

Often times we are held back because we don't need to win, we don't have to get better. I didn't have the luxury that day and I thank Omaha John for putting me in a situation where I had to be honest with myself. No one else matters when you're trying to get to the "next level,"{in life} it's all about ourselves.... it's about looking ourselves in the mirror and "real eyesing" that the answer we've been searching for is not outside, it's inside ourselves.

I went back out there and was like an entirely different person. John had been telling me to stop spinning my ball and playing low percentage shots....so I did. Others had made comments about my game that I had ignored because of my ego, so I incorporated those suggestions too - my perception had changed, the Game had given me a vital spiritual experience.

From that point I beat the guy out of over 8K and he looked like he had been drained of all his energy. I didn't care what it took I made myself shoot the correct shot, in the right way and forgot forever my childish reasons for not playing the Game correctly. To be a Champion at anything we must keep doing "the next right thing," whether we like it or not.

Looking back I can't help but think the chains of mediocrity had been broken, and I had started to become a player. From that moment on I had a "6th Sense" about pool and knew what I HAD to practice to improve and what I needed to ignore. "The chain breaks at it's weakest link" and that became the motto of my practice routines.


I'll always remember that lesson Omaha John Shuput and the Game taught me in that bar in South Carolina.... and the mirror that reflected what I needed to have "eyes that could see my self". 'The Game is the Inner Teacher' www.cjwiley.com
 
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Ky Boy said:
Just wondering who really teaches the mental game. Reviews I read on here for instructors are generally full of information about fundamentals, aiming, position play, stroke, etc etc etc...

I have heard Jimmy Reid's No Time for Negative is a great read as well as the Inner Game of Tennis (I think that's what it's called). I plan on picking both of those up and giving them a good read but have been thinking lately of taking a lesson since I have never had one to see if I can take it to the next level.


Even Tin Cup had a mental game coach!:thumbup:


Gary
Click to expand...

There are many options but I would recommend you give Blackjack an email/PM or call.
 
Ky Boy said:
Just wondering who really teaches the mental game. Reviews I read on here for instructors are generally full of information about fundamentals, aiming, position play, stroke, etc etc etc...

I have heard Jimmy Reid's No Time for Negative is a great read as well as the Inner Game of Tennis (I think that's what it's called). I plan on picking both of those up and giving them a good read but have been thinking lately of taking a lesson since I have never had one to see if I can take it to the next level.


Even Tin Cup had a mental game coach!:thumbup:


Gary
Click to expand...

I will give you an example and tell me if you need mental aspects coaching
You are shooting a shot CB near the rail, if you do not take into account cue elevation you will make the shot say 40% of the time, if cue tip hit CB at unintended area of CB you might make the shot 70% of the time, similarly pool has at least 15-20 little check list some are easier than others to find, but there are ones it takes life time to find on your own i call them "secrets" if you do not learn all of them you will always say "damn when i practice i shoot like God, but in a game i suck" no Magic power that will solve your problem.
But since you are asking about a "mental game" instructor, you have to see one, so it clears the area occupied by this desire in your mind for the other check list items you need to master eventually.
 
CJ Wiley said:
....

Often times we are held back because we don't need to win, we don't have to get better. I didn't have the luxury that day and I thank Omaha John for putting me in a situation where I had to be honest with myself. No one else matters when you're trying to get to the "next level,"{in life} it's all about ourselves.... it's about looking ourselves in the mirror and "real eyesing" that the answer we've been searching for is not outside, it's inside ourselves.

I went back out there and was like an entirely different person. John had been telling me to stop spinning my ball and playing low percentage shots....so I did. Others had made comments about my game that I had ignored because of my ego, so I incorporated those suggestions too - my perception had changed, the Game had given me a vital spiritual experience.

From that point I beat the guy out of over 8K and he looked like he had been drained of all his energy. I didn't care what it took I made myself shoot the correct shot, in the right way and forgot forever my childish reasons for not playing the Game correctly. To be a Champion at anything we must keep doing "the next right thing," whether we like it or not.
Click to expand...

I love this post for the simple reason that it demonstrates that even great players are sometimes not mentally strong enough to be committed to sticking with the percentages in shot design. You have to be wise enough and committed enough to plan all aspects of all your shots with proper care rather than letting your instincts take over.

Sounds to me that Omaha John taught you this lesson well. Yes, you learned this lesson the hard way, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Omaha John understood that the time you spend trying to make money over the glorious green felt is an investment to be managed with as much care as any other investment. Once you understood that, it seems like you broke out of your funk. Once you managed the investment of your time with the care that was called for, the investment paid off more and more.

Thanks for sharing your story.
 
CJ Wiley said:
We can relate, Gary, the mental game ultimately makes the biggest difference.

I remember when, at the age of 19, "Omaha John" and I were touring around on a road trip and ended up in a small bar in South Carolina. The owner of the bar was a BIG gambler and would take the 5 and the break from anyone playing on the bar table with the Big Cue Ball.

We had been going through a tough time and I was "breaking even" with everyone. Usually I would get ahead, then start "letting up," they would come back, "get even" and quit. This was getting annoying and I was beginning to question if I had enough "heart," to be a champion player.

(snip the great advice)
Click to expand...

That reminds me of one of my favorite and useful jokes:

How'd you do in Vegas?

I broke even....and boy did I need it!
Click to expand...


Jeff Livingston
 
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Pre Shot Thinking

Ky Boy said:
Just wondering who really teaches the mental game. Reviews I read on here for instructors are generally full of information about fundamentals, aiming, position play, stroke, etc etc etc...

I have heard Jimmy Reid's No Time for Negative is a great read as well as the Inner Game of Tennis (I think that's what it's called). I plan on picking both of those up and giving them a good read but have been thinking lately of taking a lesson since I have never had one to see if I can take it to the next level.


Even Tin Cup had a mental game coach!:thumbup:


Gary
Click to expand...

Gary,
Its correct pre shot thinking. You do youre planning of the next 3 shots or more sometimes if it looks painfully difficult and you never deviate from this. You always plan after each shot. You stop sending the cue ball to a region. You pick out a particular spot for the cue ball and as you are shooting the shot that is your goal with the cue ball.

Just don't let up on your planning. Make it more and more precise as time goes by. Your arm will start being calibrated to the distances you ask it feel. Your spin allowance will get better and more exact and then you will start accomplishing your plan more and more.

Its about repetition, keep doing the same self speak, asking youre body to accomplish the goals with the cue ball that you ask it to.

This is the only way you learn what is and is not possible with the cue ball.

Finally, learn to play one pocket. If you really get into it you will find that you can do things using maximum spin shot softly that you would have never dreamed of doing playing 9-ball. A good one pocket artist is a cue ball player who will stick you behind another ball and never allow you to the table. Sometimes the only way to beat a guy like that is to move balls together and that is just another move that there is a counter to. If you have control of your stroking arm, the mental part of the game is knowing and accomplishing the right move.

If you buy a million books none of them will help you win any more than learning and making yourself do the correct thing. You have to learn that at the table when you screw up. Set the bar high and reach for it. Your arm will calibrate.
 
I found it was like opening one of those old feed sacks

sjm said:
I love this post for the simple reason that it demonstrates that even great players are sometimes not mentally strong enough to be committed to sticking with the percentages in shot design. You have to be wise enough and committed enough to plan all aspects of all your shots with proper care rather than letting your instincts take over.

Sounds to me that Omaha John taught you this lesson well. Yes, you learned this lesson the hard way, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Omaha John understood that the time you spend trying to make money over the glorious green felt is an investment to be managed with as much care as any other investment. Once you understood that, it seems like you broke out of your funk. Once you managed the investment of your time with the care that was called for, the investment paid off more and more.

Thanks for sharing your story.
Click to expand...

That's right, it's all about building a strong foundation on solid ground so to speak....then it was all about building things naturally, in the ideal order.

I found it was like opening one of those old feed sacks that had the string that you had to pull to get it started.....it looked like a simple task, and like everything there was a technique that needed to be understood and followed.

When you pulled the string incorrectly it was a major struggle to get it open, however if you were very careful to get it started correctly it opened with ease and very little effort.

This is how pool was for me, I had to make some fundamental adjustments when I was in my mid to upper 20s, then the game opened up and actually started playing through me, rather than me struggling to open the game up.....I had to change my stance and pre shot routine so that the rest of my game could fall into place consistently.

If the Game of pool is a struggle for someone I always direct them back to the basic foundation and MAKE SURE they "real eyes" how to start correctly......then, once this foundation (from the feet up to the eyes) is understood and corrected the Game starts to open for them as well.......this process is very natural.....almost "super" natural. ;) 'The Inner Game is the Teacher'
 
'Zen in the Art of Archery'

mr8ball said:
Try reading the inner game of tennis by Tim Galloway. You will be surprized what is will do.
Click to expand...

I agree, this was a great book and Tim was influenced by another book that I strongly recommend and have read several times....here's an example of what the book offers:


" You cannot do it ", explained the Master, `because you do not breathe right. Press your breath down gently after breathing in, so that the abdominal wall is tightly stretched, and hold it there for a while. Then breathe out as slowly and evenly as possible, and, after a short pause, draw a quick breath of air again − out and in continually, in a rhythm that will gradually settle itself. If it is done properly, you will feel the shooting becoming easier every day. For through this breathing you will not only discover the source of all spiritual strength but will also cause this source to flow more abundantly, and to pour more easily through your limbs the more relaxed you are."
 
The book Pleasures of Small Motions: Mastering the Mental Game of Pocket Billiards by Bob Fancher is great for learning about the mental aspect of pool.
 
Gallwey

"The Inner Game of Tennis"

The inner game of every sport is very similar. This book is the "watershed" teachings for the mental game. It will teach you how to learn and compete. This book will also help you identify "instructors" that are most beneficial for your improvement.
 
The Mind and Body are One in Competition.

Ky Boy said:
Just wondering who really teaches the mental game. Reviews I read on here for instructors are generally full of information about fundamentals, aiming, position play, stroke, etc etc etc...

I have heard Jimmy Reid's No Time for Negative is a great read as well as the Inner Game of Tennis (I think that's what it's called). I plan on picking both of those up and giving them a good read but have been thinking lately of taking a lesson since I have never had one to see if I can take it to the next level.


Even Tin Cup had a mental game coach!:thumbup:


Gary
Click to expand...


You've been offered some really good books, Gary, and I also suggest you study some of the physical techniques as well, after all the Mind and Body are One in competition.

I used to practice with Buddy Hall in Tampa Florida when we both lived there and he was always an inspiration.....at times I would try to imitate his stroke/grip/tempo and found out that it worked really well for Buddy and not so well for me....that's the issue, even though we all have common denominators in our games, we still have to find a way to do it our own way.
Buddy has shown me things that don't work for me, but work for other people and I've learned the same type things from Omaha John, Mike Lebron, Efren, Hopkins, David Howard, Earl Strickland, Jr. Weldon, Jersey Red, Eddie Taylor, Big John, Doug Smith, etc.

When you pay attention around guys like this you'll often pick up key bits of wisdom, especially if you know how to elicit it. Sometimes you can use it directly, and other times you have to tweak it a bit to conform to your own personal style....learning to improve is more of a journey than a destination....and just like travel broadens our horizons, so does understanding how others experience their personal reality, especially at the highest level.

We, that strive to discover the perfection in the game realize that we express ourselves through the game, AND the game {paradoxically} must express its self though us..... and this, in appearance is as unique as a fingerprint.
 
Thanks for all the feedback...

Dang, I never expected so many replies! Thanks to all of you for the feedback!

Looks like I have books I need to purchase and quite a bit of reading to do!:D

I am willing to put the time in to make the jump to a higher level of performance. I have played with some good players who in the last few years have made quite a name for themselves in the pool world. Obviously, I am happy for them but often wonder if I put forth more effort that I can be a threat to finish high in regional events and start cashing in as well.

Admittedly, I tend to get nervous when I realize "Hey, I am going to beat this guy!", and then the wheels fall off!:o

Thanks again for all the replies!


Gary
 
CJ Wiley said:
You've been offered some really good books, Gary, and I also suggest you study some of the physical techniques as well, after all the Mind and Body are One in competition.

I used to practice with Buddy Hall in Tampa Florida when we both lived there and he was always an inspiration.....at times I would try to imitate his stroke/grip/tempo and found out that it worked really well for Buddy and not so well for me....that's the issue, even though we all have common denominators in our games, we still have to find a way to do it our own way.
Buddy has shown me things that don't work for me, but work for other people and I've learned the same type things from Omaha John, Mike Lebron, Efren, Hopkins, David Howard, Earl Strickland, Jr. Weldon, Jersey Red, Eddie Taylor, Big John, Doug Smith, etc.

When you pay attention around guys like this you'll often pick up key bits of wisdom, especially if you know how to elicit it. Sometimes you can use it directly, and other times you have to tweak it a bit to conform to your own personal style....learning to improve is more of a journey than a destination....and just like travel broadens our horizons, so does understanding how others experience their personal reality, especially at the highest level.

We, that strive to discover the perfection in the game realize that we express ourselves through the game, AND the game {paradoxically} must express its self though us..... and this, in appearance is as unique as a fingerprint.
Click to expand...

Probably the main reason I hang around here is for the free mental instruction I get from you and the wake up calls you give to the pool community when you post. You say things a hundred different ways and take your ration of $hit from the gallery for it, but there's a solid theme underpinning your OCD teachings.

I can run out from anywhere, but you still inspire me to make it better. Keep me thinking about not thinking and I just might get there one day.

Best,
Mike
 
Ky Boy said:
Just wondering who really teaches the mental game. Reviews I read on here for instructors are generally full of information about fundamentals, aiming, position play, stroke, etc etc etc...

I have heard Jimmy Reid's No Time for Negative is a great read as well as the Inner Game of Tennis (I think that's what it's called). I plan on picking both of those up and giving them a good read but have been thinking lately of taking a lesson since I have never had one to see if I can take it to the next level.


Even Tin Cup had a mental game coach!:thumbup:


Gary
Click to expand...

Go into your local Barnes and Noble to the info desk. Tell the person to take you to the psychology section. There will be several rows of books to browse. There will also be a larger Self Improvement section close to Psychology. The Inner Game Of Tennis may be in Sports-T. Pool books are in a section called Games.
 
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